Healthy Orange Chicken

November 14, 2024

45

medium

2

This Healthy Orange Chicken offers a fresh, flavorful take on the classic takeout favorite—lightened up without compromising on taste. Tender cubes of chicken breast are marinated in a zesty blend of orange juice, garlic, chili sauce, and rice wine vinegar, infusing them with a sweet and tangy kick before being seared to a golden caramelized finish.

Sautéed onions and green onions add aromatic depth, while the reserved marinade simmers into a glossy sauce that clings perfectly to each bite. Finished with fresh orange zest and served over fluffy white rice, this better-for-you version is a vibrant and satisfying meal that delivers bold flavor in every forkful.

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Ingredients:

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1lb chicken breast
1tsp vegetable oil
0.25cup orange juice
0.25cup rice vinegar
1tsp rice wine
2Tbs soy sauce
1Tbs chili sauce hot
2cloves garlic minced
1Tbs brown sugar
2Tbs orange zest
1stalk green onions
0.25cup water
1tsp corn starch
2servings salt and pepper to taste
2servings rice white

Directions

1.
Marinate the Chicken
1.Cut the chicken breasts into cubes. In a mixing bowl, combine the orange juice, rice vinegar, rice wine, hot chili sauce, brown sugar, and minced garlic. | 2. Add the chicken cubes to the marinade and toss to coat. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing down to ensure the marinade soaks the chicken evenly. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
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2.
Prepare the Vegetables
1. While the chicken marinates, chop the onion into square pieces. | 2. Slice the green onions, separating the white and green parts. | 3. Zest the orange.
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3.
Sauté the Chicken
Heat vegetable oil in a sauté pan over high heat. Add the marinated chicken and sauté for 1 minute. Toss the chicken and sauté for another minute or until caramelized. Transfer the chicken to a dish and set aside.
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4.
Sauté the Onion
1. In the same pan, with the heat still on high, add the chopped onion and sauté until softened, about 2-3 minutes. | 2. Add the cooked chicken back to the pan, along with the white parts of the green onions and orange zest. Cook for another 30 seconds to incorporate the flavors.
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5.
Simmer and Reduce the Sauce
1. Pour the marinade liquid into the pan and let it simmer for about 30 seconds. | 2. Add the remaining green onion and continue to cook until the sauce has reduced and thickened.
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6.
Final Seasoning
Taste the sauce and add salt and pepper to your liking.
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7.
Serve
Serve the healthy orange chicken over white rice. Enjoy!
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Recipe content adapted from Foodista, modified and licensed under CC BY 3.0.

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